7. Beppe Grillo

His name may be unfamiliar to most Americans, but Beppe Grillo is well-known in Italy. Though he trained as an accountant, Grillo rose to fame as a comedian and television star; his highly political material struck a chord with audiences, and Grillo became a force in Italian politics. In 2005, he started sharing his thoughts on a blog–it’s now available in Italian, English and Japanese, and is one of the most widely read in the world, making him a truly global Web Celeb.